RECOMMENDATIONS
AND TREATMENTS FOR MANAGING STRESS
In today’s busy
modern world you may often experience stress.
Stress comes in many forms including:
- Work-related pressures
- Personal and family issues
- Financial difficulties
- Divorce, separation and/or marital
issues
- Personal injury or illness
- Death of a loved one
- Any significant changes – e.g. moving
house, changing jobs, etc.
Though most of us
cope with these stressful events, occasionally the pressure and tension can
build up to the point where the stress in your life starts to adversely affect
your physical and/or emotional health. If left untreated, chronic stress can
cause symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety, sleep disturbances, irritability, and
even poor memory and reduced concentration.
Stress can also be a contributing factor in illnesses such as peptic
ulcers, depression, headaches/migraines, dermatitis, asthma, and Irritable
Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
STRATEGIES FOR
COPING WITH STRESS
If stress is
affecting your health, there are some excellent strategies you can use to help
you manage your stress levels and improve your health and vitality.
For example:
Talk to someone: It has
been repeatedly demonstrated that talking about your difficulties with someone
can help – find a trusted friend, family member, or trained Healthcare
Professional (e.g. Counsellor, Psychologist) that you can share your thoughts,
feelings and worries with. Talking with someone may help you find a solution to
your problem and can often help you feel like you can cope.
Relaxation techniques: Use techniques to help reduce your stress levels.
Yoga, tai chi, meditation, massage or even a soothing, relaxing hobby may help
you manage your stress levels more effectively.
Exercise: Regular exercise is a very good way to improve your mood and help you
cope with stress better. Just 30 minutes per day of exercise increases the
production of ‘feel good’ brain chemicals called endorphins, which can help you
feel more positive and energetic.
Good diet and healthy lifestyle: A healthy diet will ensure that you have
all the essential vitamins and minerals you need to help your body cope with
stress, and a healthy lifestyle will help control stress levels. This means
doing regular exercise, getting adequate sleep, taking time for relaxation, and
minimising smoking, drugs and stimulants (such as caffeine and sugar), as well
as avoiding excessive alcohol intake.
Natural Medicines: If stress is affecting your health, using natural
supplements to support your stress-coping mechanisms may help to restore your
wellbeing and get you back to feeling energetic, healthy and happy.
RESTORING BALANCE
IN THE BODY
Chronic, ongoing
stress may adversely affect your nervous system, adrenal glands, and your
entire body – including your digestive and immune systems. Restoring balance,
health and vitality to all your body systems can be achieved through
appropriate dietary and lifestyle changes, and through the use of specialised
natural supplements containing nutrients such as B vitamins and magnesium, as
well as herbs such as bupleurum, peony, zizyphus, ginger, magnolia, and poria.
Different nutritional and herbal combinations are
available to suit the individual needs of different people – your Practitioner
will be able to choose the supplement best suited to your need.
